Students to receive work experience via e-learning

A new scheme set to be launched by the Financial Skills Partnership (FSP) is planning to introduce technology that will facilitate work experience placements via e-learning in schools and colleges around the country.

The GetInGetOn initiative is an industry-led online learning programme through which firms within the financial and professional services sectors can develop young people's employability skills and prepare talented individuals for the future.

It is targeting 16 to 19-year-olds who already possess the knowledge required for them to break into these markets and students taking part in the project - which begins on April 1st - will undertake various online training modules through an interactive platform, at the same time as being in contact with professionals with whom they can chat about career prospects.

Liz Field, chief executive officer of the FSP, said the body is launching the scheme with pilot virtual placements that will each last one month and allow participants from sector organisations to develop their coaching and mentoring skills.

Students will then be enrolled into eight 30-minute long e-learning modules developed alongside employers and teachers, which offer information on subjects such as how financial services work, the risks and rewards of the industry and good customer service, while their e-mentor will be on hand to give guidance.

"Participating in a virtual placement as an e-mentor is bound to give volunteers job satisfaction, as they will play an immensely important role in a young person's life, establishing the young person's first connection to the industry and helping us find our future 21st century leaders," Ms Field stated.

Elsewhere in the country, West Yorkshire-based e-learning provider Virtual College's Yorkshire Productivity Training team has been working with local schools to deliver pre-apprenticeship training, which is designed to prepare young people for the world of work.

With more than £1 million in government grants to support training, the institution has a wide range of online modules to offer companies, covering topics like Working Safely in an Engineering Environment and Apprenticeship Foundation: Equality and Diversity.